Old Car Festival

At the longest-running antique car show in America, you’ll be immersed in the moving stories of the early automotive era, perfectly set in the place where the history of the American automobile not only is passionately preserved but comes to life every day. From the turn of the century to the Great Depression, Old Car Festival in Greenfield Village offers a raucous ride of vehicles that epitomize the earnest optimism of the American Dream.

Generations of car owners share their passion with fans during this beloved tradition, showcasing an astounding array of restored vehicles in an authentic hometown setting that brings you right into a long-ago moment.

Wander through the village, and talk to owners about their treasured vehicles. The ongoing Pass-in-Review parade is a car lover’s dream, as electric, steam and gas-powered engines are constantly in motion around you. Watch drivers engage in games of skill, see a Model T assembled in just minutes or just sit back and enjoy our experts sharing "car talks" while historic vehicles cruise.

Ragtime America comes to life in the center of Greenfield Village with historically-inspired street food, music, dancing and even a cake walk. Plan to stay late Saturday evening for the Gaslight Parade of Cars, and dance along with the River Raisin Ragtime Revue as it performs popular music of the ragtime era. Cap off the evening with a Dixieland-style parade and fireworks finale.

In 2017, we are celebrating the centennial of Lincoln Motor Company with an in-depth look at its high-end mark on the industry. When General Motors president (and pacifist) Billy Durant refused to allow Cadillac to build engines for allied aircraft in World War I, founder Henry Leland, with his son Wilfred, resigned in protest. In August 1917, they established a new company, which Henry Leland named after the first president for whom he had cast a ballot: Abraham Lincoln. The Lelands remade their company into a high-end automaker in 1920, but the weak postwar economy forced them to sell to another father-son duo, Henry and Edsel Ford, in 1922. Under Ford ownership, and with Edsel Ford’s skilled guidance as president, Lincoln flourished to take its place among America’s finest luxury marques.